According to a study conducted by the University of St. Gallen, Swiss citizens collectively possess around 200 tons of gold bars and coins, valued at nearly 15 billion francs. The study involved 3,000 participants from different language regions and revealed interesting insights about gold ownership in Switzerland.

Notably, approximately 20% of the gold is stored without security at home, with 15% kept indoors and 5% hidden in gardens. Among those who own physical gold, which accounts for 22% of the respondents, the average holding is 101 grams, worth about 7,500 francs. Many gold owners choose to store their precious metal in bank safe deposit boxes (39%), while others prefer to store it with bullion dealers (9%) or customs (3%).

The primary motivation for investing in gold is the perceived stability and long-term nature of the investment, mentioned by 43% of the participants. Other motivations include protection against economic crises and profit-making opportunities, each cited by 31% of the respondents. Additionally, 26% of gold investors aim to guard against inflation, and 25% seek to diversify their investment portfolios.